Blackrock Mountain

"Have you heard the rumblings? The mountain stirs once more. Beneath its crags, cliffs and rocks, there's evil in its core. Fire made flesh! Dragon's breath! Teeth and claw and flame! Calling any heroes out there that are brave - or just insane!"

Wild format

With the arrival of the Year of the Mammoth, Blackrock Mountain is now a Wild format adventure. This means players can no longer purchase the adventure, although players who have already purchased at least one wing can continue to purchase any remaining wings, and are still free to play the adventure. Cards from the Blackrock Mountain card set are no longer playable in Standard format matches. For more information, see Game format.

Blackrock Mountain is a five-wing adventure, with each wing representing a raid or dungeon instance from the World of WarcraftBlackrock Mountain zone, a high-level area inhabited by fire elementals, Blackrock orcs, Dark Iron dwarves and the black dragonflight. The adventure features 17 bosses, as well as 9 Class Challenges and a challenging Heroic mode. By defeating these bosses, players can earn 31 new collectible cards, including 5 legendaries, and 18 class cards,[2] and a special card back.

Players can purchase each wing of the adventure using either gold or real money, with discounts available when purchasing multiple wings using real money.

Blackrock Mountain was released April 2 in the Americas region (falling on April 3 for Southeast Asia and Oceania), and April 3 in the Europe, Asia and China regions.[1] The first wing unlocked April 2/3, with a new wing unlocking each week after that. The game data itself was added on March 31 with Patch 2.4.0.8311.

The placement of the Class Challenge sections indicate which boss features in each Challenge, as well as which wing must be completed in order to unlock it. The "Dust value" column shows the amount of Arcane Dust the cards in that wing will produce if disenchanted.

Each boss is a computer opponent with their own unique cards and hero powers, designed to be "tough, unique, and interesting" encounters[4] that introduce new strategic elements, forcing you to "change how you play".[5]Blackrock Mountain will feature 17 bosses in total, spread across 5 wings. For a list of confirmed boss encounters, see the above table.

Bosses use a combination of unique hero powers, regular collectible cards (including class cards from any or multiple classes), and special boss cards which are not available for players to collect, equipped with unbalanced effects described as "totally unfair ... totally brutal".[6] Boss decks are built from the standard 30 cards, but like Arena decks are not subject to the 2-copies-per-card limit found in constructed play, in some cases containing as many as 10 copies of a given card.

Blackrock Mountain bosses can be faced in Normal or Heroic mode, and in some cases as part of Class Challenges. Normal mode is the default for playing adventures, designed to allow players of all abilities to participate in and complete the adventure. Bosses in Heroic mode use the Heroic Blackrock Mountain card back.

List

Most of the bosses are listed in the above table, along with their place in the adventure's structure. However, the table does not list the names of several bosses, either because their names are not used as the title for their encounter, or because they are secondary bosses within their encounter. The missing bosses are:

"The denizens of Blackrock Mountain are back, but this time they're bringing their A-game. Heroic missions are VERY difficult! Not for the faint of heart."

Blackrock Mountain includes a Heroic mode, featuring "ridiculously unfair and overpowered" versions of the adventure's bosses. Heroic bosses generally require the crafting of very specific decks with the singular aim of defeating that particular boss, and even then may take several attempts and some very lucky draws in order to be defeated.

Heroic mode can be unlocked for each wing through defeating all bosses in that wing in normal mode. Defeating all Heroic bosses will earn the player a special card back.

Blackrock Mountain features 9 new Class Challenges, one for each class. Like those in Curse of Naxxramas, each sees the player pitted against a specific boss, using a special pre-made deck tailored to that class. Completing each Class Challenge rewards the player with 2 copies of a new class-specific card for that class. Class Challenges are unlocked by defeating all bosses in the corresponding wing in normal mode. Class Challenges do not have Heroic mode versions.

Class Challenges use predetermined decks, which are not revealed in full to the player at any point. These decks are the usual 30 cards, but like the Arena, are not subject to the 2-copies-per-card limit found in constructed play. Each Class Challenge (with the exception of the Mage Class Challenge) features the card rewarded, and may also use other cards from the adventure which are not yet available to the player.

Class Challenge decks usually have specific themes, and often serve to specifically demonstrate how the reward card can be used to great effect, such as by including several other cards with which it has good synergy. This synergy often extends to the hero powers and cards used by the Challenge's boss.

Each wing of the adventure must be purchased with gold or real money. Once a player has purchased a wing, that wing will stay available unlocked, and can be replayed as frequently and as many times as desired. Blackrock Mountain is also only accessible to players who have unlocked all 9 classes.

As a Wild format adventure, Blackrock Mountain is no longer available for purchase by new players through the in-game Shop and must be purchased through the Blizzard Shop with real money. Players who have already purchased at least one wing can purchase the remaining wings through the adventure itself.

While the adventure itself must be purchased before it can be played, all cards from the adventure are automatically available for selection in Arena, and through effects like Unstable Portal and Piloted Sky Golem, regardless of whether the player has yet collected them or purchased the related wing.

Players can purchase wings using either gold or real money. "Bundle" discounts are offered if purchasing all remaining locked wings at one time using real money.

Note while players can purchase a variable number of wings, all options above a single wing involve buying all remaining wings. For example, it is not possible to use real money to purchase the first 3 wings, and then buy the final 2 wings later; in order to buy multiple wings using real money, the player must buy all remaining wings. It is however possible to buy individual wings, and later buy all remaining wings at once.[7]

The following prices are for PC/Mac/Android. For iPad prices, see the iTunes store.

Blackrock Mountain originally unlocked one wing at a time, starting April 2/3. Once each wing unlocked, any players who had purchased that wing were able to play it. A new wing unlocked on Thursday (depending on region) each week until the entire adventure had been unlocked.

Prior to the adventure's release, players were able to pre-order the adventure using real money, earning the unique "Molten Core" card back. As pre-ordering has now closed, that card back is no longer obtainable by players.

Blackrock Mountain features 31 new collectible cards, including 18 collectible class cards (2 for each class) and 13 collectible neutral cards, as well as 7 uncollectible cards (Fandral Staghelm later added an 8th) and a new replacement hero and Hero Power. Blackrock Mountain cards can be recognised by a special marking (a series of peaks, separated by jagged lava flows) behind the card text, not found on other cards.

Neutral Blackrock Mountain cards and half of the class cards are obtained by defeating individual bosses in Normal mode, while the other half of the Blackrock Mountain class cards are obtained through completing Class Challenges.

Once the player has obtained the regular version of a Blackrock Mountain card, they will be able to craft and disenchant both regular and golden versions of that card for regular crafting amounts.[11]

All cards are available for selection in the Arena, regardless of whether the player has purchased or completed the corresponding wing.

In addition to the playable cards listed above, Blackrock Mountain brings 109 unique cards and Hero Powers available only during the adventure's boss encounters. For a full list, see Blackrock Mountain boss cards.

All Dragon-synergies featured in the adventure involve effects which are triggered by the player holding a Dragon minion card in their hand when the card in question is played. A strategic point is that the successful activation of these effects will signal to the opponent that the player has a Dragon in their hand, although which Dragon or Dragons will not be revealed.

In Blackrock Mountain: A Hearthstone Adventure, heroes can challenge some of Molten Core’s most notorious elemental malcontents and recruit elemental minions into service for their own collections. Elementals are powerful beings closely linked to the power of the elemental plane they hail from, and when one of these beings is on your Hearthstone board, they’re sure to have a potent effect.[14]

Fire elementals are a strong presence in Blackrock Mountain, especially in the adventure's second wing, the Molten Core.

Players that enter the adventure will immediately be greeted by the Dark Iron Dwarves that dwell deep within the depths Blackrock Mountain. They’re a bit hot-headed, but can you blame them; there’s no air conditioning in Blackrock Depths! If you’re thinking about grabbing a refreshment at the Grim Guzzler Bar while you're there, keep your cards ready – a good ol’ fashioned Hearthstone brawl could break out at any time![15]

Strong, stubborn, and stalwart, the heat of Blackrock Depths has forged the Dark Iron Dwarves into singe-proof juggernauts. Able to take an immense amount of punishment, many of the minions that inhabit Blackrock Depths can both dish out their fair share of pain, or turn inflicted damage into impressive beneficial effects.[16]

Blackrock Mountain features numerous Dark Iron dwarves. As with most dwarf minions, the majority of these cards share a theme of damage, whether dealing it, providing additional effects in response to it, or both.

First debuted with Bolvar Fordragon in Goblins vs Gnomes, Blackrock Mountain features several in-hand effects, expanding the range from 1 to 5. All of these cards share the same effect, reducing the mana cost of the card by 1 for each minion that has died that turn.

The adventure brought with it a new battlefield, used for all matches as part of the adventure. The battlefield was initially restricted to matches within the adventure itself, but in June 2015 was made available for use in all types of matches.

There are three card backs related to the adventure. Two are obtained through the adventure itself, one from defeating all bosses in Heroic mode, and one as reward for pre-ordering the entire adventure using real money. The third card back was obtained by achieving Rank 20 in the March 2015 RankedSeason.

Molten Core

No longer availablePre-ordering the Blackrock Mountain adventure

The Molten Core of Azeroth and not a chocolate lava cake, unfortunately.

Nefarian

Completing Blackrock Mountain in Heroic mode

You didn’t actually believe someone named “Lord Victor Nefarious” wasn’t up to anything nefarious, did you?

The adventure brings new music tracks.[17] If the adventure emulates Curse of Naxxramas, several new pieces will be added to the game for use while playing the adventure itself, and at least one new piece will be added to the main repertoire.[18]

While each of these instances originally featured at distinct and distant periods in the game's history, Blackrock Mountain appears to choose freely from them, mixing and matching elements to provide some novel combinations and a new take on the zone and its denizens. Most critically, the adventure's Nefarian appears to be based on the character's World of Warcraft: Cataclysm incarnation, following his defeat during "Vanilla" WoW, and later resurrection by his father Deathwing. Meanwhile, Ragnaros appears to be taken from the Molten Core raid, which saw the Firelord defeated by adventurers months before they first encountered Nefarian.

The adventure initially sees players working with the slightly suspicious Lord Victor Nefarius to battle Ragnaros, leader of the fire elementals and ruler of the Dark Iron forces within the lower half of the mountain. The player will battle through the first wing of Dark Iron forces as they make their way deeper into the mountain, with the second wing hosting the Molten Core, home to Ragnaros himself.

However, after defeating Ragnaros, the player decides to turn against Lord Victor Nefarius, entering the upper reaches of the mountain to slay his minions, and eventually forcing Nefarius to reveal his true form - the black dragon Nefarian. With the aid of Ragnaros, who reveals himself not to be "truly dead", the player manages to slay Nefarian.

It seems though that Ragnaros is not the only one capable of faking his death, as Nefarian too is not truly slain following his defeat in Blackwing Lair. Entering the dragon's Hidden Laboratory, the player battles through several more bosses to reach Nefarian once more, where he has a special surprise in store, in the form of his resurrected sister Onyxia.

The adventure contains extensive dialogue, from Nefarian, Ragnaros and each of the many bosses. See individual boss pages, e.g., Omnotron Defense System#Dialogue.

While most dialogue occurs within after the encounters themselves (or in some cases immediately after defeating a boss), some happens within the general adventure screen, or in response to opening wings. This dialogue is spoken by either Nefarian or Ragnaros, and is listed below.

Introduction

Nefarian - Welcome to Blackrock Mountain, my home.

Ragnaros - YOUR HOME?! I WILL FRY YOU, DRAGON!

Nefarian - Ugh, please. You know what? YOU should make a visit to the Molten Core.

Trouble stirs beneath Blackrock Mountain. Deep within the fiery cracks of the Molten Core, Ragnaros the Firelord is massing his elemental forces, posing a serious threat to the black dragon Nefarian’s mountaintop lair. Things are about to reach a flashpoint… better break out the cards and show these two how real heroes settle their differences: with a civilized game of Hearthstone!

Blackrock Mountain throws you right in the middle of one of Azeroth’s most heated conflicts, the ancient feud between the elemental lord of fire, Ragnaros, and the powerful black dragon Nefarian, the de-facto leader of the black dragonflight. Nefarian would call himself the ruler of Blackrock Mountain, but Ragnaros and his elemental servants have been a thorn in the dragon’s side for far too long. This mountain’s not big enough for the two of them. Before you do the dragon’s bidding to take on the Firelord, ask yourself: Is Nefarian’s encouragement genuine, or are you just another pawn in the old wyrm’s schemes?

Fight your way through five wings full of epic bosses and add their exclusive cards to your collection, defeat clever class challenges to earn even more new class cards, then take on Heroic Mode to prove once and for all who is the true master of Blackrock Mountain.

The sooty stone halls of Blackrock Depths form a dim, sprawling city whose subterranean streets are filled with Dark Iron dwarves. The Dark Irons are enslaved to the will of Ragnaros the Firelord, and that’s a pretty time-consuming job. When they’re not slaving away, however, they make time for fun! Brawls in the Grim Guzzler, brawls in the Ring of Law . . . really just brawling everywhere they feel like brawling.[21]

Deep under Blackrock Mountain, near smoldering rivers of slowly flowing lava, lies the cavernous sprawl of Blackrock Depths. Home to the fire-resistant Dark Iron Dwarves and their host of stone-hewn golems and blazing elementals, these hearty folk have carved out an empire for themselves from the mountain itself, ultimately aiming to claim all of Blackrock for themselves.

Whether they’re tending to the piping hot forges or enjoying a good old-fashioned tavern brawl at the Grim Guzzler, the denizens of Blackrock Depths are a force to be reckoned with. Tempered in the heat of the mountain, the Dark Iron Dwarves will stop at nothing to destroy those who control the upper reaches of the mountains, namely those accursed dragons!

Strong, stubborn, and stalwart, the heat of Blackrock Depths has forged the Dark Iron Dwarves into singe-proof juggernauts. Able to take an immense amount of punishment, many of the minions that inhabit Blackrock Depths can both dish out their fair share of pain, or turn inflicted damage into impressive beneficial effects.

Since a high heat (and alcohol) tolerance is a sign of strength in Dark Iron Dwarf society, you can rest assured that their tavern brawls within Blackrock Depths’s Grim Guzzler tavern are an impressive sight to see. If you decide to throw the first punch, prepare yourself as a few grim patrons (and all of their friends) join in on the action!

If you manage to take the heat and survive a few drinks at the Grim Guzzler, make sure you stroll steadily along the stone paths that connect the city. Those paths are all that separate you from a dip in a molten volcanic river! Shamans can harness the essence of lava in order to melt away their Overload problems. How refreshing![16]

The Molten Core is the seething, magma-filled heart of Blackrock Mountain, where long ago—in what is now widely considered to be a bad move—the Dark Iron dwarf Thaurissan summoned Ragnaros the Firelord into Azeroth. Ragnaros promptly incinerated Thaurissan’s kingdom and enslaved his people, which also had the convenient (if you’re a Firelord) side effect of creating the cozy (if you’re a fire elemental) volcano known as Blackrock Mountain. Now the searing volcanic caverns of Molten Core are patrolled by elemental minions eager to turn up the heat on any heroes foolish enough to invade the Firelord’s domain.

A Flamewaker is an ambitious sort of fire elemental. In addition to being helpful when you need to rouse a sleepy fire, Flamewakers tend to be tougher and smarter than their fellow elementals, and often possess some skill in the arcane arts. Fire is their weapon of choice, and you can count on turning their scouring flames to your service should you win a Flamewaker’s loyalty.

It turns out that elemental lords are fond of keeping pets. Unfortunately, when a magma giant thinks “cuddly,” he checks off a list that includes things like “giant,” “two-headed,” “fang-mawed,” and “made of living magma.” The only beings dwelling in the elemental plane of fire who match that description are the terrifying core hounds. While keeping one of these critters probably makes apartment hunting a chore, there’s no better four-legged friend to have when your back is up against the wall.

Imps are like roaches. If you see one, there are definitely more nearby, and they’re probably doing things like letting the air out of your tires, changing your computer’s background to something embarrassing, or ’plosioning. It’s even worse when they’re in a gang . . . or SUPER GREAT if they’re on your side.[14]

As the ebon stone halls of Blackrock Spire are patrolled by warmongering Blackrock orcs, ogres, and Nefarian’s dragonkin servants, the stage is set for one of Warcraft’s most memorable moments.

The corridors and chambers within Blackrock Mountain serve many purposes, ranging from laboratories, to barracks, to smithies. Among them is the Black Dragonflight’s rookery, where spiky eggs can be found from wall to wall. The funny thing about these dragon eggs is that they’re pressure sensitive. Brush up against one and they *pop* open like the world’s deadliest popcorn, spewing forth a bitey li’l dragon whelp. Enter one group of hapless adventurers with an impatient ally, and the legend of Leeroy Jenkins is born. Do you want whelps? Because dragon eggs are how you get whelps.

“Dragonkin” refers to all the draconic races who aren’t full dragons, including the drakonids, or dragon hybrids. No one is quite sure how they came to be, but since dragons usually don’t mind meddling with mortals, it’s a safe bet that muddled mortal is a primary ingredient. These powerful and devoted spawn of the Black Dragonflight are Nefarian’s lieutenants within Blackrock Spire. Some of them thrive on magical forces, and if you’re not averse to sharing a little magical juice, you’ll be richly rewarded.

The Blackrock clan of orcs is led by the fearsome Rend Blackhand. You might be asking yourself, “What kind of name is Rend?” to which we’d answer, “His brother’s name is Maim, so. . . .” Yeah, they’re that kind of family. True to form, Rend is kind of a jerk, and wants to overthrow Thrall and take control of the Horde so he can spread his version of family values across the face of Azeroth. With Nefarian’s help, Rend and the Blackrock orcs gained the upper hand over the Dark Iron dwarves that once occupied the spire. Now, Rend’s warriors serve as troops and guards while everyone else hangs out and hatches evil schemes (and sometimes dragon eggs). Tired of powerful heroes and minions cluttering up your opponent’s board? Rend can help.[22]

If you think you’ve gotten out of trouble just because you’re a “safe” distance from the otherworldly elementals of Molten Core or the flame-tempered (and ill-tempered) dwarves of Blackrock Depths, think again! A host of black dragons lurk within the uppermost reaches of Blackrock, and their leader is perhaps the most ill-tempered of them all. . . .

The black dragon Nefarian, son of Deathwing, claims the upper reaches of Blackrock Mountain as his own. Ruthless and cunning, Nefarian built Blackwing Lair as a home for the black dragonflight and his various experiments. It was also here that he concocted the ultimate army of home-cooked chromatic dragons, perfect for thwarting Ragnaros and his fiery minions that lurked under the mountain (Nefarian’s favorite pastime.)

If you think shredders are the only things goblins like to tinker with, you are sadly mistaken. The green-skinned technicians within Blackwing Lair love to tinker with “organic chemistry,” creating volatile concoctions from dragon experiments that enhance their own nefarious powers. If you see a Blackwing Technician looking shady, be sure to take note: A dragon is near.

While the Technicians are busy dabbling with their dangerous dragon experiments, the Blackwing Corruptors are engrossed in harnessing and controlling the powers of dragons for their own dark deeds. These minions have seen “How to Train Your Dragonkin” at least 100 times. Their powers are also bolstered by their proximity to dragons, so stay on your toes!

There are a few rules when it comes to handling dragons, but the most important rule of all is this: Don’t stand in front of one—ever. Aside from a maw of sharp teeth to watch out for, dragon breath is incredibly good at reducing heroes to piles of ash. While it’s not minty fresh, Dragon’s Breath can be very powerful in the hands of a Mage on a minion-roasting rampage.[23]

Note: Hidden Laboratory appears to be based on the World of Warcraft raid Blackwing Descent, Nefarian's laboratory hidden deep in Blackrock Mountain.

Nefarian really, really loves experiments—specifically mad experiments. He loves them so much that he’s had himself re-animated and is now back from the dead, fully ready to resume his twisted work. Being a very goal-oriented dragon, he’s outfitted another secret laboratory deep inside Blackrock Mountain, complete with sparking lightning coils, vats of questionable substances, and the sounds of draconic agony. Nefarian spared no expense in decking this place out with all the tools, materials, minions, and victims he needs to succeed. He even had his pad tricked out with amazing Dark Iron technology (Hint: It’s not a sound system, though that would be totally sweet).

In a given dragonflight, not all dragonkin are equally powerful. Drakes are younger dragons, and Nefarian keeps a bunch of these around to do his bidding. They do it all, including acting as guards, enforcers, mounts for favored allies (lookin’ at you Rend), cook, clean, do chores around the lair, and are really great at disposing of excess adventurers.

They have a weakness for snacks, so if you have some tasty corpses handy, a drake will be your best friend forever.

He’s a Drakonid. He crushes things. He crushes injured heroes really well. What more do you want?

Nefarian, AKA, Blackwing, AKA Victor Nefarius, Lord of Blackrock. When he’s not smashing intruders with his sorcerous might, he enjoys long walks through his domain, the sound of victims sniveling in fear, and quality time on his throne. His family is known across the land for their wisdom, restraint, and humility. Psyche! His family tree includes some of the most hideously evil dragons Azeroth has ever known, including his sister Onyxia and their father, Deathwing. They’re all pretty much the worst kind of awful, but true to his name, Nefarian is, well, nefarious. Not only does he have that being a huge dragon deal going for him, he’s also cunning and manipulative, as evidenced by his not-so-friendly rivalry with the elemental Firelord Ragnaros (probably because they’re both really terrible neighbors). Neighborhood watch? More like neighborhood watch your back!

You need magic? Nefarian’s got magic aplenty, and he delights in using his enemies’ tools against them.[24]

The following text was sent to players who pre-ordered the adventure.[25]

Greetings, Adventurer!

I, Lord Victor Nefarius of Stormwind, formally welcome you to Blackrock Mountain in April of this year.

Much as I wish I were extending this invitation under better circumstances, the situation at Blackrock Mountain is somewhat dire. The foolish Dark Iron dwarves have unwittingly summoned the Firelord Ragnaros into our fair world, and he now dares set up shop in this mountain that is rightfully mine!

(Any mortal being should also be concerned that he aims to burn the world to cinders.)

As a champion of Azeroth, you will, of course, lend me your strength in defeating the Elemental Lord. I look forward to your visit and your aid.

P.S. If you see any black dragons around, please ignore them. They aren’t up to anything nefarious.

P.P.S. I hope this invitation also allays any concerns you may have about recent rumors that I, myself, am a black dragon. I mean, that’s just ridiculous, isn’t it? And even if it were true, why should you concern yourself with such matters, right?

Blackrock Mountain is a zone between the Burning Steppes and the Searing Gorge, linking the two regions. This zone is deceptively small, and appears empty when first entered - however, it was at one point, without doubt, among the most dangerous places in Azeroth. It was hotly contested between the forces of Ragnaros and his Dark Iron servants on one side and the black dragon Nefarian and his orc minions on the other. Currently, it is occupied by the Ironmarch. This is one of the most important areas in World of Warcraft lore.

The mountain is actually a volcano that was created at the end of the War of the Three Hammers when the Dark Iron dwarf Lord, Thaurissan, accidentally summoned Ragnaros the Firelord from his prison beneath the earth. The power unleashed by his "rebirth" was so massive it shattered a large section of the Redridge Mountains, creating the areas now known as the Searing Gorge and Burning Steppes. Ragnaros enslaved the Dark Iron dwarf clan, and they have dug many tunnels and created a huge underground city in the depths of the mountain. Dwarves would later name this mountain Blackrock Spire. The name Blackrock Mountain and Blackrock Spire predates the coming of the orcs. Blackrock Spire is the part of Blackrock Mountain that is above ground, and Blackrock Depths is the parts underneath the mountain.

During the events of the First War, the Blackrock clan of orcs had taken over the upper reaches of the mountain. During the Second War, the Blackrock Mountain was the headquarter of the Horde. When this war was ending, one of the fiercest battles in the history of Azeroth took place here, the Assault on Blackrock Spire. After the Old Horde had been defeated at the Dark Portal following their defeat at the the Assault on Blackrock Spire, many orcs where caught and put into interment camps by the Alliance of Lordaeron. Rend Blackhand and his brother Maim Blackhand, who served as dual chieftains of the defeated Black Tooth Grin clan and Blackrock clan, apparently rescued some of their warriors from the interment camps and went back to Blackrock Spire where they founded the Dark Horde. The black wyrmNefarian arrived two years later after the Dark Portal was reopened by the Horde of Draenor. He made his home in the upper reaches of Blackrock Mountain and made this Dark Horde his personal army, in addition to the other black dragons he brought and the experiments he later created.

Ragnaros and Nefarian waged a brutal war for supremacy and control of the mountain. Ragnaros controlled his Dark Iron dwarves and their various machines and golems, as well as an army of elementals, beasts, and powerful lieutenants such as Baron Geddon, Garr, and Sulfuron. As an Elemental Lord, he also gained the favor of the Twilight's Hammer. Nefarian controlled (and still does, in terms of game mechanics) the Dark Horde which consisted of the Blackrock and Black Tooth Grin tribes of orcs, a small army of trolls and ogres, as well as his dragon lieutenants and his invention, the chromatic dragonflight. Nefarian himself could be found in Blackwing Lair, overlooking the mountain, while Ragnaros lead his own army from the mountain's volcanic core. The two rivals both hoped to raise a powerful army that could take over Azeroth. The war was ended with both sides being destroyed by heroes of the Alliance and Horde who were able to banish Ragnaros back to the Firelands and kill Nefarian.

Upon Deathwing's return to Azeroth after the Third War, Deathwing, the Black Aspect, managed to convince Ragnaros, who was still in the Firelands, to join him in an alliance in order to destroy the mortal races of Azeroth. The Twilight's Hammer clan had set up a base in the caverns of Blackrock from where they sought to create a main supply route to Mount Hyjal and send the remaining fire elementals to the war zone. Meanwhile, Deathwing's son Nefarian - who after being killed by adventurers was raised as an undead by Deathwing to continue creating minions - had been plotting his revenge after his shameful defeat. As such, he began creating even more twisted and horrific experiments deep within the halls of Blackwing Descent.

Given how Ragnaros and Nefarian served serve the same master, it's likely that they stopped fighting each other and sought to aid Deathwing in destroying Azeroth instead. While Ragnaros made it his goal to burn Hyjal, Nefarian was more content with creating moreand morecreative monstrosities to further Deathwing's plans. Nefarian eventually met his end at the hands of the Alliance and Horde, ending his twisted machinations and experiments permanently. Ragnaros was later permanently destroyed within his fortress, Sulfuron Keep within the Firelands, ending the evils that once occupied the mountain.

Following the success of Curse of Naxxramas, various settings for the game's second adventure were considered.[27] One reason Blackrock Mountain was finally chosen was that it presented a different theme to those of both Curse of Naxxramas and Goblins vs Gnomes, the game's previous content additions.[27] While Curse had brought undeath, spiders and slime, and Goblins vs Gnomes had brought comic 'wackiness', inventions and explosions, Blackrock Mountain would bring a more epic, classic Warcraft experience. This fit with the developers' desire for 'continually changing things out'.[27]

Blackrock Mountain also fit with the 10-year anniversary of World of Warcraft, which occurred in November 2014, shortly before the release of Goblins vs Gnomes, which itself featured a revamped version of the original Molten Core raid.[27] The developers were also excited about exploring and expanding upon the game's Dragon minion type, and Blackrock Mountain provided an excellent opportunity for this.[27]

Announcement

On February 26th, datamined information from upcoming Patch 8036 was discovered, leading many fan sites to speculate that the next adventure would be based on Blackrock Mountain.

The speculation was based on the inclusion within the patch of 3 new card backs - Molten Core, Ragnaros and Golden Celebration - and 2 accompanying achievements, one of which stated as its description "purchase brm presale". This note seemed to clearly indicate that there will be something new to purchase, labelled "brm". World of Warcraft players quickly spotted the in-game acronym for Blackrock Mountain, the location of the Molten Core instance, which itself houses Ragnaros. The connection between these elements appeared to strongly suggest a Blackrock Mountain-themed adventure.

At the beginning of March, an animated elemental was added to the official site, just above the site navigation bar (see right). In addition, the sample cards on display were changed to Leeroy Jenkins, Twilight Drake, Core Hound, Dark Iron Dwarf and the ever-infamous Magma Rager, all characters taken from Blackrock Mountain. This appears to confirm the speculation regarding the theme of the adventure.

On March 3rd the official PlayHearthstone Twitter account tweeted an image of a Hogger plushie holding a Hearthstone plushie, with the caption "Adventure Awaits!" (see right).[29] This again appeared to confirm that the next content released would be an adventure. The background also appears to depict Redridge Mountains, a zone immediately to the south of the Burning Steppes, the zone in which Blackrock Mountain is located.

The picture was released along with the classic phrase "It's dangerous to go alone!" While this could have referred to the two characters in the picture, or simply be a casual use of the phrase which is often employed when embarking on an 'adventure', some speculated that it may refer to a co-op adventure mode, or even the long-awaited 2v2 mode.[30] However, an official tweet later confirmed that there were no plans for co-operative play.[31]

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